Digital photographing apparatus and control method thereof

ABSTRACT

A digital photographing apparatus that recommends a suitable auto focus (AF) candidate area to a user before photographing, allows a user to select an AF area or automatically selects the AF area, and allows a user to conveniently and accurately capture a desired image, and a method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus are disclosed. A method is provided that includes calculating information about a distance to an object existing in an image stereoscopically input through a first lens and a second lens; matching the information about the distance to red green blue (RGB) information of the image; displaying a plurality of AF candidate areas on the image based on the matched RGB information; and capturing an image centered on an AF candidate area having a first priority when a photographing button is pressed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2011-0125216, filed on Nov. 28, 2011, in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, which is incorporated herein in itsentirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a digital photographing apparatus for capturingstereo images and a control method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, in order to perform an auto focusing (AF) operation in adigital photographing apparatus, a user moves the apparatus to place anobject to be in focus in a location of a fixed AF area, or the digitalphotographing apparatus finds an area having a relatively strongintensity edge in an image to recommend the area as an AF area forperforming an AF operation.

However, while performing an AF operation using a fixed AF area, anobject to be in focus in an image needs to be placed in a fixed locationof a composition of a picture, and a user needs to reset a compositionof a picture due to the fixed AF area. Furthermore, an object that auser does not wish to be in focus may be recommended as an AF area.

SUMMARY

The invention provides a digital photographing apparatus that recommendsone or more suitable AF candidate areas to a user before photographing,allows a user to select one or more AF areas or automatically selectsone or more AF areas, and allows a user to conveniently and accuratelycapture a desired image.

The invention also provides a control method of the digitalphotographing apparatus.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method ofcontrolling a digital photographing apparatus, the method including:calculating information about a distance to an object existing in animage stereoscopically input through a first lens and a second lens;matching the information about the distance to red green blue (RGB)information of the image; displaying a plurality of AF candidate areason the image based on the matched RGB information; and capturing animage centered on an AF candidate area having a first (e.g., highest)priority when a photographing button is pressed.

In the calculating of the information about the distance, the image maybe obtained by mixing first and second images input respectively throughthe first and second lenses.

The calculating of the information about the distance may includedisplaying the distance information from a short distance to a longdistance using gray levels 0 through 255.

The matching of the information about the distance to the RGBinformation of the image may include: dividing the image into aplurality of blocks; calculating RGB average values of pixels existingin each of the plurality of blocks; and including the information aboutthe distance in the RGB average values of the pixels.

The displaying of the plurality of AF candidate areas may includedisplaying the plurality of AF candidate areas on the image obtained bymixing first and second images respectively input through the first andsecond lenses.

The displaying of the plurality of AF candidate areas may includegenerating the plurality of AF candidate areas based on sizes of objectsand distances to the objects.

Priorities may be assigned in descending order from an AF candidate areaincluding an object that has the largest size and to which a distance isshortest to an AF candidate area including an object that has thesmallest size and to which a distance is longest.

An AF candidate area having the first priority may be displayeddifferently from the other AF candidate areas.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method ofcontrolling a digital photographing apparatus, the method including:calculating information about a distance to an object existing in animage stereoscopically input through a first lens and a second lens;matching the information about the distance to RGB information of theimage; displaying a plurality of AF candidate areas on the image basedon the matched RGB information; receiving a selection of any one of thedisplayed plurality of AF candidate areas; and capturing an imagecentered on the selected AF candidate area when a photographing buttonis pressed.

In the calculating of the information about the distance, the image maybe an image obtained by mixing first and second images input through thefirst and second lenses.

The calculating of the information about the distance may includedisplaying the distance information from a short distance to a longdistance using gray levels 0 through 255.

The displaying of the plurality of AF candidate areas may includedisplaying the plurality of AF candidate areas on the image obtained bymixing first and second images respectively input through the first andsecond lenses.

The matching of the information about the distance to the RGBinformation of the image may include: dividing the image into aplurality of blocks; calculating RGB average values of pixels existingin each of the plurality of blocks; and including the information aboutthe distance in the RGB average values of the pixels.

The displaying of the plurality of AF candidate areas may includegenerating the plurality of AF candidate areas based on sizes of objectsand distances to the objects.

Priorities may be assigned in descending order from an AF candidate areaincluding an object that has the largest size and to which a distance isshortest to an AF candidate area including an object that has thesmallest size and to which a distance is longest.

An AF candidate area having the first priority may be displayeddifferently from the other AF candidate areas.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a digitalphotographing apparatus including: a distance calculator to calculateinformation about a distance to an object existing in an imagestereoscopically input through a first lens and a second lens; amatching unit to match the information about the distance to RGBinformation of the image; a generation unit to generate a plurality ofAF candidate areas from the image based on the matched RGB informationand then for displaying the plurality of AF candidate areas; and acontroller to capture an image centered on any one of the plurality ofAF candidate areas when a photographing button is pressed.

The distance calculator may display distance information from a shortdistance to a long distance using gray levels 0 through 255.

The generation unit may generate the plurality of AF candidate areasbased on sizes of objects and distances to the objects, and may assignpriorities in descending order from an AF candidate area including anobject that has the largest size and to which a distance is shortest toan AF candidate area including an object that has the smallest size andto which a distance is longest.

The controller may capture an image centered on an AF candidate areahaving a first priority when a photographing button is pressed, or whenthe photographing button is pressed after any one of the displayed AFcandidate areas is selected, the controller may capture an imagecentered on the selected AF candidate area.

Using the digital photographing apparatus and the control methodthereof, it is possible to generate a photographing result that moreaccurately reflects an intention of a user by allowing the user toeasily select a desired AF area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the invention will becomemore apparent in review of detail exemplary embodiments thereof withreference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital photographing apparatus,according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the digital signal processor ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an image input through any one of afirst lens and a second lens;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating distance information of an objectrepresented using gray levels;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a detection data block;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a detection datablock is matched to distance information of an object represented usinggray levels;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a plurality of AFcandidate areas are indicated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a plurality of AFcandidate areas are indicated in a live-view image;

FIG. 9A illustrates an example in which an AF operation is performedcentered on an AF candidate area having a first priority when a firstshutter release button is pressed;

FIG. 9B shows an image captured when a second shutter release button ispressed after performing an AF operation centered on an AF candidatearea having a first priority;

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate examples in which an AF candidate areaother than an AF candidate area having a first priority from among aplurality of AF candidate areas is selected;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling the digitalphotographing apparatus of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling the digitalphotographing apparatus of FIG. 1, according to another embodiment ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will now be described more fully with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the inventionare shown. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements,and thus repeated descriptions thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital photographing apparatus,according to an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 1, a digital camera1 is described as an embodiment of the digital photographing apparatus.However, the digital photographing apparatus is not limited to thedigital camera 1 shown in FIG. 1 and may also be applied to otherdigital apparatuses such as compact digital cameras, single-lens reflexcameras, hybrid cameras having advantages of a compact digital cameraand a single-lens reflex camera, camera phones, personal digitalassistants, portable multimedia players, and any other device capable ofperforming photographing.

Referring to FIG. 1, the digital camera 1 may include a lens unit 110, alens driver 210, an iris 120, an image pickup device 130, an analogsignal processor (ASP) 140, a digital signal processor (DSP) 300, aninput unit 410, a display unit 420, a flash 430, an auxiliary lightgenerator 440, a program storage unit 451, a buffer storage unit 452,and a data storage unit 453.

The lens unit 110 concentrates an optical signal. In the currentembodiment, the lens unit 110 includes a first lens 111 and a secondlens 112. The first lens 111 is used to capture a left image of asubject, and the second lens 112 is used to capture a right image of thesubject. The first lens 111 and the second lens 112 may be included inthe digital camera 1 or assembled from the outside.

The iris 120 adjusts the intensity of incident light by adjusting anopen/close degree thereof. In the current embodiment, the iris 120includes a first iris 121 and a second iris 122. The first iris 121adjusts the intensity of incident light by adjusting an open/closedegree with respect to the first lens 111, and the second iris 122adjusts the intensity of incident light by adjusting an open/closedegree with respect to the second lens 112.

The lens driver 210 and an iris driver (not shown) drive the lens unit110 and the iris 120 by receiving a control signal from the DSP 300,respectively. The lens driver 210 may be realized by a voice coil motor(VCM), a piezo motor, or a stepping motor. For example, when the lensdriver 210 is realized by a VCM, the VCM may be assembled at a positionsurrounding the lens unit 110 to move the left and right lenses 111 and112. The lens driver 210 may further include a motor driver (not shown)for driving the VCM in addition to the VCM. The iris driver adjusts anopen/close degree of the iris 120, and in particular, performsoperations such as AF, auto exposure (AE) compensation, focus change,and subject depth adjustment by adjusting an iris value (F number).

An optical signal passing through the lens unit 110 forms optical imagesof a subject on a light-reception face of the image pickup device 130.In the current embodiment, the image pickup device 130 includes a firstimage pickup device 131 and a second image pickup device 132. The firstimage pickup device 131 forms a first electrical image of an opticalsignal passing through the first lens 111, and the second image pickupdevice 132 forms a second electrical image of an optical signal passingthrough the second lens 112. The image pickup device 130 may use acharge coupled device (CCD), a complementary metal oxide semiconductorimage sensor (CIS), or a high-speed image sensor for converting anoptical signal to an electric signal. The image pickup device 130 mayadjust its sensitivity under a control of an image pickup devicecontroller (not shown). The image pickup device controller may controlthe image pickup device 130 in response to a control signalautomatically generated by an image signal input in real-time or acontrol signal manually input by a manipulation of a user. The digitalcamera 1 may further include a shutter (not shown) as a mechanicalshutter in which a cover moves upwards and downwards.

The ASP 140 generates digital image signals by performing noisereduction, gain adjustment, waveform standardization, andanalog-to-digital conversion of analog electrical signals provided fromthe image pickup device 130.

The input unit 410 is a device for inputting a control signal by theuser. The input unit 410 may include a shutter release button foropening and closing the shutter to expose the image pickup device 130 tolight for a predetermined time, a power button for supplying power, awide-angle zoom button and a telescopic zoom button for widening ornarrowing an angle of view in response to a corresponding input,character input keys, a mode selection button for selecting a mode suchas a camera mode and a play mode, a white balance setting functionselection button, and an exposure setting function selection button. Theshutter release button may be divided into first and second shutterrelease buttons or positions. When the first shutter release button ispressed, the digital camera 1 performs a focusing operation and adjuststhe intensity of light. Then, the user may press the second shutterrelease button, and accordingly, the digital camera 1 may capture animage. Although the input unit 410 may have a form of various keybuttons, the input unit 410 is not limited thereto and may beimplemented in any user-input form, such as a switch, a keyboard, atouch pad, a touch screen, or a remote control.

The display unit 420 may include a liquid crystal display (LCD), anorganic luminescence display panel, or a field emission display (FED)and display state information of the digital camera 1 or a capturedimage.

The flash 430 is a device for temporarily illuminating a subject bytemporarily emitting a bright light onto the subject when the subject isphotographed in a dark place, and flash modes include an automatic flashmode, a compulsive light emission mode, a light emission prohibitionmode, a red-eye mode, and a slow synchro mode. The auxiliary lightgenerator 440 provides auxiliary light to a subject so that the digitalcamera 1 can AF on the subject in a quick and correct manner when theintensity of light is not sufficient or when photographing is performedat night.

The digital camera 1 also includes the program storage unit 451 forstoring programs such as an operation system and applications forcontrolling the digital camera 1, the buffer storage unit 452 fortemporarily storing data required during a computation or result data,and the data storage unit 453 for storing image files including imagesignals and various kinds of information required for the programs.

The digital camera 1 also includes the DSP 300 for processing digitalimage signals input from the ASP 140. and controlling the components ofthe digital camera 1 in response to external input signals. The DSP 300may mix first and second input image signals, and perform image signalprocessing for image quality enhancement of a mixed image such as noisereduction, gamma correction, color filter array interpolation, colormatrix, color correction, and color enhancement. In addition, the DSP300 may generate an image file by compressing image data generated byperforming the image signal processing for image quality enhancement. Inaddition, the DSP 300 may restore (decompress) image data from an imagefile. A compressed image file may be stored in the data storage unit453. In addition, the DSP 300 may generate control signals forcontrolling a zoom change, a focus change, and AE compensation byexecuting programs stored in the program storage unit 451 and providethe generated control signals to the lens driver 210, the iris driver,and the image pickup device controller to respectively control the lensunit 110, the iris 120, and the image pickup device 130.

In the current embodiment, the DSP 300 performs stereo matching for afirst image and a second image. Human beings may see things in threedimensions using a time difference between two eyes, and the digitalcamera 1 has a time difference characteristic with respect to left andright sides in which an image is captured differently by the first andsecond lens 111 and 112 having a constant distance therebetween. Thus,the DSP 300 performs the stereo matching, wherein a position difference,i.e., a difference between the two sides, is extracted by detecting thata pattern located at a specific position in a first image captured viathe first lens 111 is located at a different position in a second imagecaptured via the second lens 112, and then the first image and thesecond image are matched by correcting the position difference withrespect to any one image.

According to the current embodiment, the DSP 300 calculates informationabout a distance to an object existing in an image input through thefirst lens 111 and the second lends 112, and generates a plurality of AFcandidate areas from the image after matching the calculated distanceinformation to RGB information of the image and then displays theplurality of AF candidate areas. After this, when a photographing buttonis pressed, an image is captured centered on an AF candidate area havinga first priority. In addition, when a photographing button is pressedafter any AF candidate area of the displayed AF candidate areas isselected; an image is captured centered on the selected AF candidatearea. For this, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the DSP 300 may include adistance calculator 310, a matching unit 320, a generation and displayunit 330, and a controller 340, and a detailed operation of the DSP 300is described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 10.

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the DSP 300 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the DSP 300 includes the distance calculator 310,the matching unit 320, the generation and display unit 330, and thecontroller 340. The distance calculator 310 calculates a distance to anobject existing in an image input through the first lens 111 and thesecond lens 112. That is, the distance calculator 310 calculates adistance from the camera 1 to a real position of the object.

In FIG. 3, an image that is used for calculating a distance isillustrated. The image may be an image obtained by mixing first andsecond images input through the first and second lenses 111 and 112(i.e., stereoscopically input via the first and second lenses 111 and112), or may be an image input through any one of the first and secondlenses 111 and 112. In the current embodiment, it is assumed that theimage illustrated in FIG. 3 is the first image input through the firstlens 111.

The distance calculator 310 calculates real distance information of anobject existing in the first image. For example, the distance calculator310 calculates distance information through various methods such ascalculating distance information by sending an ultrasonic signal fromthe camera 1 to the object and then receiving a returned signal. Thedistance calculator 310 generates a distance information map bycalculating distance information about the first image illustrated inFIG. 3. FIG. 4 illustrates the distance information map generated forthe first image. The distance calculator 310 represents distanceinformation from a short distance to a long distance using gray levels 0through 255 to allow a user to readily comprehend the distanceinformation map. An object located at the longest distance is displayedas a black color using gray level 0, and an object located at theshortest distance is displayed as a white color using gray level 255.

In addition, the camera 1 sets up detection data blocks to perform afast AF/auto white balance (AWB)/AE. The detection data blocks areobtained by dividing an image frame into a plurality of blocks andaveraging RGB values of pixels existing in each of the plurality ofblocks. It is possible to reduce the amount of calculations duringperforming of the AF/AWB/AE algorithm using the detection data blocks.An example of detection data blocks 505 is illustrated in FIG. 5. Thefirst image is divided into a plurality of blocks, and a RGB averagevalue of pixels existing in each block is stored in each block.

The matching unit 320 generates three-dimensional (3D) detection datablocks by matching distance information to the RGB information of thedetection data blocks. FIG. 6 illustrates an example in which the firstimage, of which the distance information is expressed using gray levelsas illustrated in FIG. 4, is matched to the detection data blocks of thefirst image.

The generation and display unit 330 generates a plurality of AFcandidate areas from the image of FIG. 6 in which the distanceinformation is matched to the RGB information of the detection datablocks, and outputs the plurality of AF candidate areas to the displayunit 420. The generated plurality of AF candidate areas are illustratedin FIG. 7. The plurality of AF candidate areas are indicated on an imageobtained by mixing the first image and the second image. That is,although the plurality of AF candidate areas are generated using thefirst image, the generated plurality of AF candidate areas are indicatedon the image obtained by mixing the first image and the second image. InFIG. 8, the plurality of AF candidate areas indicated on the imageobtained by mixing the first and second images are illustrated.

The generation and display unit 330 generates the plurality of AFcandidate areas based on sizes of objects and distances to the objects,and grants priorities in descending order from an AF candidate areaincluding an object that has the largest size and to which a distance isshortest to an AF candidate area including an object that has thesmallest size and to which a distance is longest. An AF candidate area705 having a first (e.g., highest) priority is displayed using a colordifferent from that of the other AF candidate areas. FIG. 8 shows thatthe color of the AF candidate area 705 having the first priority isdifferent from that of the other AF candidate areas.

The controller 340 captures an image centered on any one of theplurality of AF candidate areas when the photographing button ispressed. The controller 340 captures an image using any one of theplurality of AF candidate areas using one of two methods.

In a first method, the controller performs an AF operation centered onan AF candidate area having a first priority when the first shutterrelease button is pressed, and captures an image when the second shutterrelease button is pressed. FIG. 9A illustrates an example in which an AFoperation is performed centered on an AF candidate area 905 having afirst priority when the first shutter release button is pressed. FIG. 9Bshows an image captured when the second shutter release button ispressed after performing the AF operation centered on the AF candidatearea 905 having the first priority.

In a second method, the controller 340 receives information about aselection of any one of a plurality of AF candidate areas displayed onthe display unit 420. The user may select a desired AF candidate areausing the input unit 410 included in the camera 1. FIGS. 10A and 10Billustrate examples in which respective AF candidate areas 1005, 1010other than the AF candidate area 905 having the first priority fromamong a plurality of AF candidate areas is selected. The selected AFcandidate area 1005, 1010 is displayed with a color different from thatof unselected AF candidate areas. When selection of an AF candidate areaby the user is finished, the controller 340 receives a first shutterrelease input signal that is generated when the first shutter releasebutton is pressed by the user. The controller 340 performs an AFoperation centered on the selected AF candidate area 1005, 1010 when thefirst shutter release input signal is received, and captures acorresponding image when the second shutter release button is pressed.

In this manner, it is possible to obtain an accurate photographingresult intended by the user by displaying and photographing an AFcandidate area using a matching between a distance information map offirst and second images and detection data blocks.

Methods of controlling a digital photographing apparatus according toembodiments of the invention are explained with reference to FIGS. 11and 12. The method may be performed in a digital photographing apparatussuch as that illustrated in FIG. 1, and a main algorithm of the methodmay be performed in the DSP 300 with help of peripheral components.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling the digitalphotographing apparatus of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of theinvention.

Referring to FIG. 11, the DSP 300 receives a power on signal of thecamera 1 from a user and then displays a stereo matched live-view imageon the display unit 420 (operation S10).

When the stereo matched live-view image is displayed on the display unit420, the DSP 300 calculates distance information of an object existingin an image (operation S20). The image may be an image obtained bymixing first and second images input through the first and second lenses111 and 112, or may be an image input through any one of the first andsecond lenses 111 and 112. The DSP 300 generates a distance informationmap by calculating the distance information, and displays the distanceinformation from a short distance to a long distance using gray levels 0through 255 to allow a user to readily understand the distanceinformation map. An object located at the longest distance is displayedas a black color using gray level 0, and an object located at theshortest distance is displayed as a white color using gray level 255.

Next, the DSP 300 generates 3D detection data blocks by matchingdistance information to RGB information of detection data blocks(operation S30). The detection data blocks are obtained by dividing animage frame into a plurality of blocks, and averaging RGB values ofpixels existing in each of the plurality of blocks. It is possible toreduce the amount of calculations during performing of an AF/AWB/AEalgorithm using the detection data blocks. The DSP 300 includes thedistance information in the RGB information of the detection datablocks.

When the 3D detection blocks are generated, the DSP 300 generates aplurality of AF candidate areas from the 3D detection data blocks, andthen outputs the plurality of AF candidate area to the display unit 420(operation S40). The DSP 300 generates the plurality of AF candidateareas based on sizes of objects and distances to the objects, and grantspriorities in descending order from an AF candidate area including anobject that has the largest size and to which a distance is shortest toan AF candidate area including an object that has the smallest size andto which a distance is longest. An AF candidate area having a first(e.g., highest) priority is displayed using a color different from thatof the other AF candidate areas.

Subsequently, the DSP 300 receives a first shutter release button inputfrom the user (operation S50).

When the first shutter release button input is received, the DSP 300performs an AF operation centered on the AF candidate area having thefirst priority (operation S60).

When the AF operation is finished, the DSP 300 receives a second shutterrelease button input from the user (operation S70) and then captures animage centered on the AF candidate area having the first priority(operation S80).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling the digitalphotographing apparatus of FIG. 1, according to another embodiment ofthe invention. Below, explanations that overlap with those of FIG. 11are partially omitted.

Referring to FIG. 12, the DSP 300 receives a power on signal of thecamera 1 from a user, and then displays a stereo matched live-view imageon the display unit 420 (operation S10).

When the stereo matched live-view image is displayed on the display unit420, the DSP 300 calculates distance information of an object existingin an image (operation S20).

When the calculation of distance information is finished, the DSP 300generates 3D detection data blocks by matching distance information toRGB information of detection data blocks (operation S30).

When the 3D detection data blocks are generated, the DSP 300 generates aplurality of AF candidate area from the 3D detection data blocks, andthen outputs the plurality of AF candidate area to the display unit 420(operation S40).

Next, the DSP 300 receives a selection signal for selecting an AFcandidate area from the user (operation S41). In the embodiment of FIG.11, an AF candidate area having a first priority is automaticallyselected. However, in the current embodiment, the user may select anarea on which the user wishes to perform an AF operation.

Next, the DSP 300 receives a first shutter release button input from theuser (operation S50).

When the first shutter release button input is received, the DSP 300performs an AF operation centered on the AF candidate area selected bythe user (operation S61).

When the AF operation is finished, the DSP 300 receives a second shutterrelease button input from the user (operation S70) and then captures animage centered on the AF candidate area selected by the user (operationS80).

In this manner, it is possible to obtain an accurate photographingresult intended by a user by displaying and photographing an AFcandidate area using a matching between a distance information map offirst and second images and detection data blocks.

The invention can also be embodied as computer-readable codes on acomputer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recordingmedium is any data storage device that can store data that can bethereafter read by a computer system.

For example, the embodiments disclosed herein may include a memory forstoring program data, a processor for executing the program data toimplement the methods and apparatus disclosed herein, a permanentstorage such as a disk drive, a communication port for handlingcommunication with other devices, and user interface devices such as adisplay, a keyboard, a mouse, etc. When software modules are involved,these software modules may be stored as program instructions orcomputer-readable codes, which are executable by the processor, on anon-transitory or tangible computer-readable media such as a read-onlymemory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a compact disc (CD), adigital versatile disc (DVD), a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an opticaldata storage device, an electronic storage media (e.g., an integratedcircuit (IC), an electronically erasable programmable read-only memory(EEPROM), a flash memory, etc.), a quantum storage device, a cache,and/or any other storage media in which information may be stored forany duration (e.g., for extended time periods, permanently, for briefinstances, for temporary buffering, for caching, etc.). As used herein,a computer-readable storage medium expressly excludes anycomputer-readable media on which signals may be propagated. However, acomputer-readable storage medium may include internal signal tracesand/or internal signal paths carrying electrical signals thereon.

Any references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of thisdisclosure, reference has been made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings, and specific language has been used to describe theseembodiments. However, no limitation of the scope of this disclosure isintended by this specific language, and this disclosure should beconstrued to encompass all embodiments that would normally occur to oneof ordinary skill in the art in view of this disclosure.

Disclosed embodiments may be described in terms of functional blockcomponents and various processing steps. Such functional blocks may berealized by any number of hardware and/or software components configuredto perform the specified functions. For example, the embodiments mayemploy various integrated circuit components (e.g., memory elements,processing elements, logic elements, look-up tables, and the like) thatmay carry out a variety of functions under the control of one or moreprocessors or other control devices. Similarly, where the elements ofthe embodiments are implemented using software programming or softwareelements, the embodiments may be implemented with any programming orscripting language such as C, C++, Java, assembler, or the like, usingany combination of data structures, objects, processes, routines, andother programming elements. Functional aspects may be implemented asinstructions executed by one or more processors. Furthermore, theembodiments could employ any number of conventional techniques forelectronics configuration, signal processing, control, data processing,and the like. The words “mechanism” and “element” are used broadly andare not limited to mechanical or physical embodiments, but can includesoftware routines in conjunction with processors, etc.

The particular implementations shown and described herein areillustrative examples and are not intended to otherwise limit the scopeof this disclosure in any way. For the sake of brevity, conventionalelectronics, control systems, software development, and other functionalaspects of the systems (and components of the individual operatingcomponents of the systems) may not be described in detail. Furthermore,the connecting lines, or connectors shown in the various figurespresented are intended to represent exemplary functional relationshipsand/or physical or logical couplings between the various elements. Itshould be noted that many alternative or additional functionalrelationships, physical connections or logical connections may bepresent in a practical device. Moreover, no item or component isessential to the practice of the embodiments unless the element isspecifically described as “essential” or “critical”.

The use of the terms “a,” “an,” “the,” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the embodiments (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural. Furthermore, recitation of ranges of values herein are merelyintended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually toeach separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicatedherein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specificationas if it were individually recited herein. The steps of all methodsdescribed herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. Moreover,one or more of the blocks and/or interactions described may be changed,eliminated, sub-divided, or combined; and disclosed processes may becarried out sequentially and/or carried out in parallel by, for example,separate processing threads, processors, devices, discrete logic,circuits, etc. The examples provided herein and the exemplary language(e.g., “such as” or “for example”) used herein are intended merely tobetter illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on thescope of this disclosure unless otherwise claimed. In view of thisdisclosure, numerous modifications and adaptations will be readilyapparent to those skilled in this art without departing from the spiritand scope of this disclosure.

The use of the terms “a,” “an,” “the,” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the embodiments (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural. Furthermore, recitation of ranges of values herein are merelyintended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually toeach separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicatedherein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specificationas if it were individually recited herein. The steps of all methodsdescribed herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. Moreover,one or more of the blocks and/or interactions described may be changed,eliminated, sub-divided, or combined; and disclosed processes may becarried out sequentially and/or carried out in parallel by, for example,separate processing threads, processors, devices, discrete logic,circuits, etc. The examples provided herein and the exemplary language(e.g., “such as” or “for example”) used herein are intended merely tobetter illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on thescope of this disclosure unless otherwise claimed. In view of thisdisclosure, numerous modifications and adaptations will be readilyapparent to those skilled in this art without departing from the spiritand scope of this disclosure.

While digital photographing apparatuses, methods, and articles ofmanufacture have been particularly shown and described with reference toexemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those ofordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of thisdisclosure.

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(canceled) 21: An apparatus comprising: a display; a first imagedevice to obtain a first image corresponding to one or more externalobjects; a second image device to obtain a second image corresponding toat least one external object of the one or more external objects; and aprocessor adapted to: generate a third image using the first image andthe second image, the third image including at least one image objectcorresponding to the at least one external object; determine a distancebetween the apparatus and the at least one external object based atleast in part on the third image; selecting a color to be used for theat least one image object based at least in part on the distance; andpresent the third image via the display, the presenting includingdisplaying the at least one image object using the color. 22: Theapparatus of claim 21, wherein the first image device and the secondimage device face a same direction with respect to the apparatus. 23:The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one external objectincludes a first external object and a second external object, whereinthe at least one image object includes a first image objectcorresponding to the first external object, and a second image objectcorresponding to the second external object, and wherein the processoris adapted to: calculate, as at least part of the determining, a firstdistance between the apparatus and the first external object, and asecond distance between the apparatus and the second external object;present the first image object using a first color based on adetermination that the first distance falls into a first range; andpresent the second image object using a second color based on adetermination that the second distance falls into a second range. 24:The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor is adapted to:synthesize at least one portion of the first image and at least oneportion of the second image to generate at least one portion of thethird image. 25: The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor isadapted to: present, via the display, at least one indicator indicativeof an auto focus with respect to the at least one image object. 26: Theapparatus of claim 25, wherein the processor is adapted to: capture, inresponse to an input, the third image with the auto focus applied on theat least one image object as a final image corresponding to the at leastone external object. 27: The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at leastone indicator includes a first indicator and a second indicator, andwherein the processor is adapted to: select the at least one imageobject based at least in part on a priority of the at least one imageobject; and present the first indicator with respect to the at least oneimage object using a first color, and the second indicator with respectto one or more non-selected image objects in the third image using asecond color. 28: The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the processor isadapted to: determine the priority of the at least one image objectbased at least in part on the distance or a size of the at least oneimage object. 29: The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor isadapted to: output an ultrasonic signal from the apparatus to the atleast one external object; receive the ultrasonic signal reflected fromthe at least one external object; and perform the determining of thedistance further based at least in part on the receiving. 30: Anapparatus comprising: a display; an image device; and a processoradapted to: obtain, using the image device, an image corresponding toone or more external objects; determine a distance between the apparatusand the one or more external objects; selecting a color to be used forthe at least one image object based at least in part on the distance;and present, via the display, the image including at least one imageobject corresponding to at least one external object of the one or moreexternal objects, the presenting including displaying the at least oneimage object using the color. 31: The apparatus of claim 30, wherein theprocessor is adapted to: generate an image map using the image based atleast in part on the distance. 32: The apparatus of claim 30, furthercomprising another image device, wherein the processor is adapted to:obtain, using the other image device, another image corresponding the atleast one external object of the one or more external objects; anddetermine the distance using the image and the other image. 33: Theapparatus of claim 30, wherein the image device and the other imagedevice face a same direction with respect to the apparatus. 34: Theapparatus of claim 30, wherein the processor is adapted to: output anultrasonic signal to the one or more external objects; receive theultrasonic signal reflected from the one or more external objects; anddetermine the distance based at least in part on the receiving. 35: Theapparatus of claim 30, wherein the one or more external objects includesa first external object and a second external object, wherein the atleast one image object includes a first image object corresponding tothe first external object, and a second image object corresponding tothe second external object, and wherein the processor is adapted to:calculate, as at least part of the determining, a first distance betweenthe apparatus and the first external object, and a second distancebetween the apparatus and the second external object; present the firstimage object using a first color based on a determination that the firstdistance falls into a first range; and present the second image objectusing a second color based on a determination that the second distancefalls into a second range. 36: An apparatus comprising: a display; afirst image device; a second image device; and a processor adapted to:obtain, using the first image device, a first image corresponding to oneor more external objects; obtain, using the second image device, asecond image corresponding to at least one external object of the one ormore external objects; determine a distance between the apparatus and aselected external object of the at least one external object; andpresent, via the display, a third image including at least one imageobject corresponding to the at least one external object, the presentingincluding selecting a color based at least in part on the distance anddisplaying an indicator indicative of an auto focus using the color withrespect to a selected image object of the at least one image objectcorresponding to the selected external object. 37: The apparatus ofclaim 36, wherein the first image device and the second image device arealigned next to each other such that the first and second image devicesface a same direction with respect to the apparatus. 38: The apparatusof claim 36, wherein the processor is adapted to: change a color of theat least one image object according to the distance. 39: The apparatusof claim 36, wherein the processor is adapted to: match informationassociated with the distance to red green blue information of the thirdimage. 40: The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the processor is adaptedto: capture, in response to an input, the third image with the autofocus applied on the selected image object as a final imagecorresponding to the at least one external object. 41: The apparatus ofclaim 36, wherein the processor is adapted to: determine the distancebased at least in part on the first image and the second image. 42: Theapparatus of claim 36, wherein the processor is adapted to: output anultrasonic signal to the selected external object; receive theultrasonic signal reflected from the selected external object; anddetermine the distance based at least in part on the receiving. 43: Theapparatus of claim 36, wherein the selected external object includes afirst external object and a second external object, wherein the selectedimage object includes a first image object corresponding to the firstexternal object, and a second image object corresponding to the secondexternal object, wherein the indicator includes a first indicator and asecond indicator, and wherein the processor is adapted to: calculate, asat least part of the determining, a first distance between the apparatusand the first external object, and a second distance between theapparatus and the second external object; display, as at least part ofthe presenting, the first indicator using a first color with respect tothe first image object based on a determination that the first distancefalls into a first range, and the second indicator using a second colorwith respect to the second image object based on a determination thatthe second distance falls into a second range.